Your Career. Our Priority.
When you begin an apprenticeship, the destination isn’t always clear. It might open doors you never imagined, help you achieve personal and professional growth, or simply offer a different pathway than you first expected. However your journey begins, one thing is certain: the person who finishes an apprenticeship is rarely the same as the one who started, and usually, the transformation is for the better.
That’s certainly true for Alex Clarke, who has gone from apprentice to Marketing Executive, achieving a Distinction in her Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship. After recently completing her apprenticeship journey with EMA Training, Alex reflected on her experience, her development, and the opportunities that have shaped her career so far.
I’m Alex Clarke, and I’m the Marketing Executive at Malone Group. As the company’s only dedicated marketer, I am responsible for many different things such as managing our social media presence, overseeing the CRM, conducting marketing analysis and research, general business graphics and literature creation, collecting analytics, and branding. I recently played a role in launching Malone Group’s new brand, PRISMtec, helping to shape its identity and bring it to market.
Before starting my apprenticeship, I studied media at both high school and sixth form. I knew I wanted a career in the media world, but I wasn’t sure what types of media jobs there were out there. During and after sixth form, I worked at TK Maxx while exploring different opportunities and figuring out the right direction for my future, which ultimately led me to an apprenticeship.
I started by applying for apprenticeships online, which led to me being contacted by the EMA team and added to their talent pool. They took the time to understand the type of business I wanted to work for and helped place me in my first apprenticeship. After completing my Level 3, I took a few months off to travel, then worked with EMA again to secure a Level 4 role – this time with Malone Group, which is where I still work now.
After passing her Level 3 Digital Marketer apprenticeship (now Multi-Channel Marketer). She then progressed to the Level 4 Marketing Executive apprenticeship, achieving a Distinction. Each stage not only strengthened her skills but also helped her gain confidence and clarity about her career direction.
I was inspired by my sister’s success through her own apprenticeship, which encouraged me to follow a similar path, and it’s definitely been the right decision. The opportunity to earn while learning, gain real workplace experience, and be treated as a professional from a young age has been invaluable – it’s helped me grow a lot in maturity, which I think is something that university can’t offer.
Definitely not, completing my Level 4 and having a job secured at the end of it has been a real blessing. Through my two apprenticeships, I’ve gained a wealth of marketing experience and had the chance to work in two very different industries – fashion and engineering. This contrast has really opened my eyes to how diverse marketing roles can be.
Speaking to Alex after this, she said, “It feels so weird not being in education. This is the first time in my life I haven’t been in education. It feels like the end of an era.”. Alex’s trainer and mentor, Stuart Reddish at EMA Training, said, “It has been amazing to see Alex progress both as a marketing professional and also personally, over the last few years. With a change of employer between levels, Alex stayed determined to complete her apprenticeship and both Distinctions are thoroughly deserved.”
Alex’s story shows the real power of apprenticeships: they’re more than just a qualification. They’re a launchpad for careers, a way to grow as a professional, and an opportunity to build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in any industry.
Do you want to create your own success story and begin an exciting career in a field you love? Get in touch with us today, your apprenticeship journey could be the start of something amazing.
